Dr. Perla B. Gámez leads a program of research focused on language and literacy development, particularly in children from homes in which English is not the primary language (commonly referred to as Dual Language Learners; English Language Learners). Employing both naturalistic observation and experimental methods, her work examines how children's linguistic environments and experiences, at different developmental time points, help promote their language learning. Her current research investigates how variations in the features of language that children are exposed to in and out of school (e.g., classrooms, homes, museums) impact their language and literacy skills during preschool through adolescence. Currently, her work is funded by the
William T. Grant Foundation and the
National Science Foundation. Dr. Gámez’s teaching and mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students has earned her the Edwin T. and Vivijeanne F. Sujack Award for Teaching Excellence at Loyola University.

Courses Taught

Developmental Psychology (PSYC 273)

Psychology of Language (PSYC 307)

Psychology of Language Development (PSYC 540)

Recent (Selected) Publications:

Gámez, P.B. & González, D. (in press). A comparison of narrative skill in Spanish-English bilinguals and their functionally-monolingual Spanish and English-only peers.
International Journal of Bilingualism.